exasperating
/ig'zɑ:spəreitiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely annoying, irritating, or infuriating: Causing intense feelings of annoyance, frustration, or anger.
- Making a situation worse or more intense: Aggravating a problem or negative feeling.
Usage
The adjective "exasperating" is used to describe a person, thing, or situation that is intensely frustrating or annoying. It conveys a stronger emotion than words like "annoying" or "bothersome." It often describes repeated or persistent sources of irritation.
Examples
- Describing a situation:
- Describing a behavior or trait:
Advanced Usage
- "to find something exasperating": A common collocation expressing the speaker's reaction.
- Used to describe a quality that tests one's patience to a high degree.
Variants and Related Words
- Exasperate (verb): To irritate or provoke to a high degree; to make very angry or frustrated.
- Exasperated (adjective): Describing the feeling of being intensely annoyed.
- Exasperation (noun): The state of being exasperated; intense irritation.
Synonyms
- Infuriating: Making one extremely angry.
- Maddening: Driving someone to distraction or madness; extremely annoying.
- Aggravating (informal): Making a situation worse or more serious; annoying.
- Trying: Difficult to deal with and causing strain or annoyance.
Antonyms
- Delightful: Causing delight; charming.
- Pleasing: Giving pleasure; agreeable.
- Soothing: Having a calming, pacifying effect.
Idioms and Phrases
- The last straw (an idiom describing a final, exasperating event): While not using the word "exasperating," this idiom describes the final thing that causes one to lose patience. (This was the final, exasperating event.)
Adjective
- making worse
- extremely annoying or displeasing
- his cavelier curtness of manner was exasperating
- I've had an exasperating day
- her infuriating indifference
- the ceaseless tumult of the jukebox was maddening